Tennessee Code Title 8. Public Officers and Employees § 8-33-106

(a) The commissioner of human resources is authorized and directed to issue regulations for the enforcement of §§ 8-33-101 -- 8-33-108. The departments and agencies in the state government shall comply with such regulations and orders issued by the commissioner pursuant to such regulations.

(b) The commissioner is authorized and directed whenever the commissioner finds, upon appeal of the person concerned, that any state department or agency has failed or refuses to comply with §§ 8-33-101 -- 8-33-108, or of regulations thereunder, to issue an order specifically requiring such department or agency to comply with such provisions and to compensate such person for any loss of salary or wages suffered by reason of failure to comply with such provisions, less any amount received through other employment, unemployment compensation or readjustment allowances; provided, that any such compensation ordered to be paid by the commissioner shall be in addition to and shall not be deemed to diminish any of the benefits of such provisions, and shall be paid by the head of the department or agency concerned out of the appropriations currently available for salaries and expenses of such department or agency, and such appropriations shall be available for such purpose.